If we’re unhappy now, reaching a goal won’t make us happier

Since my early childhood, my parents would tell me I should have good grades at school so I could have a well-paid job. So I thought that once I landed it my life would be better.

And it certainly was because I could afford to travel more, rent my own apartment, and hang out with my friends at least twice a week…

But despite all these upgrades, one thing remained unchanged: I wasn’t happy. And reaching that long-time goal just amplified my unhappiness.

After realizing this, I started to question my life choices:

Am I in this relationship because I believe we’re meant to be together or because I don’t wanna be single?

Do I really love my job or do I think I can’t find anything I really enjoy doing and get paid for it?

The answers were obvious but it took me some time to face the truth because I was mostly scared of what people would think of me.

Why is she quitting her job? Has she found another one? No? Why is she quitting then? And why is she leaving to Brazil alone? Isn’t she scared to be raped?

Despite all those internal fears, I left my job, my then-boyfriend, and my friends and family for the craziest adventure of my life.

Until this day, I’m still amazed by the guts I had to have to take the leap that would forever change my life for the better.

Today, I can finally say, “I’m happy.”

And not because I reached a certain goal but because I’m living my life the way I want it to be lived and not based on what anyone would expect from me.

Does it mean I don’t have any goals now?

No, I still do. But unlike before, they’re not a condition for my own happiness anymore.